Shade for fluorescent lamps



June 8, 1943. L. LUDWIG 2,321,035

SHADE FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS Filed Feb. 7, 1941 Patented June 8, 1943 ,i

,mit

5 Claims.

This invention relates to shades for uorescent lamps. 'I'he present manufacturing process is to insert in the shade and fasten thereto separate end sockets and a separate switch housing. This practice requires great labor, a very strong shade, and considerable wiring making a complex assembly.

The present invention has for its chief objects, among others: The saving of material, manufacturing and labor costs, the use of a lighter and stronger shade, uniformly accurate positioning of the end sockets and the switch and the elimination of wiring.

In an embodiment of the present invention the shade is formed of moldable insulating material with the end sockets for a fluorescent electric lamp and a switch housing all formed as an integral part of the shade in a single molding operation. Each socket is so formed that a spring metal humped strip lies in each socket but projects thru a lateral opening to provide an apertured extension adapted to be secured on an apertured boss also integrated with the shade, the sockets and bosses at each end of the shade forming internal reinforcing structure integrating the end, top and sides of the shade, which permits the shade to be formed of thinner material than otherwise would be possible. One end of the shade may have the socket so formed as to mount a starting unit for an electric fluorescent lamp.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is made to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which Figure 1 is a front view part broken away to show the switch housing with a part of the shade at the right broken out.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the shade with the left end transversely sectioned, a part of the shade at the right broken out.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective bottom view of an 4 end socket for a fluorescent lamp, the shade broken away and the metal strips removed.

Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to Figure 4 but of the metal strips for the socket.

A shade Ill is formed of a suitable moldable, insulating material, such as Bakelite, and of sufcient length to contain a uorescent electric lamp (not shown) of well known construction having two electrical circuits therein and two parallel terminals extending lengthwise from each end for mounting the lamp in operative position. At one end of the lamp a well known starting unit (not shown) may be interposed. The shade I 0 is open at the bottom, has a flat top I I, a dat back I2 perpendicular thereto, a flat downwardly and outwardly inclined front wall I3, and parallel fiat end walls I4 and I5.

Two parallel ribs I6 and I'1 are symmetrical to each other, run vertically on the inside of the end I5, with which they are integrated in the molding of the shade I0 as well as with the top II and also with bosses I8 and I9 which are spaced from each other but which are integrated in molding with the top I I and respectively with the front I3 and rib I6 and with the back I2 and rib I'l. A vertical dividing rib 2l is also integrated with the inside of the wall I5 and the top II in molding the shade and provides vertical walls at the front and hack thereof for openings 22 and 23, rectangular in cross-section, whose opposite walls are sides of the ribs I6 and I'I. The rib- I6 is formed with a flange 24 and the rib I'I with a ange 25, the flanges 24 and' 25 being parallel with the wall I5 and with the contiguous walls of the rib 2I but separated therefrom to provide vertical slots 26 and 21. The bosses I8 and I9 are provided each with two vertical screw holes 28. It will be noted in Figure 4 that the rib I6 and -boss I8 and the rib I1 and boss I9 integrate the top II, the front I3', and the end I5 and the top II, the end I5 and the back I2 respectively. Intermediate the top and bottom. the flanges 24 and 25 are cut back to provide curved ledges 29 and 3I respectively and to widen the slots 26 and 2l respectively thereover.

Referring to Figure 5, two symmetrical strips 32 and 33 are stamped from spring metal. Strip 32 has at the top an outwardly and upwardly flaring part sli connected by an outwardly curved hump 35 with the vertical part of the strip 32 and providing a lateral semicircular gripping element on the inside for one of the terminals of the iiuorescent lamp (not shown). The base 36 extends inwardly and mounts at the top a flat screw apertured extension 31 adapted to engage the boss I8 and to be secured thereon by screws 38. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the base 36 lies in the slot 26. The metal strip 33' is similar to but symmetrical with the strip 32 and has an inclined top 39 turned outwardly, a hump 4I, and a base extension 42', all extending in al diametrically opposite direction and adapted to seat on the boss I9 on which it is secured by screws 38, and having a base 43 extending thru the slot 2l.

The socket at the other en-d of the shade I0 may be similarly formed and/or the parts may be modied to mount a well known starting unit for fluorescent lamps, the ribs 46, 41, and 5I being similar to the ribs I6, l1, and 2|, respectively.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a cylindrical switch housing 52 is formed integrally with the top Il of the shade I0 when the shade is molded so that it is an integrated continuation of the top wall of the shade l0. The bottom of the housing 52 is flat and centrally apertured and the housing is covered with a at plate 531 the top of which is coextensive with the top Il of the shade and is secured thereon by screws 54. The switch operator 5B is rotatably mounted in the top plate 53 with its lower end also rotatably mounted in the central aperture 55 in the bottom of the housing 52, and mounts two lateral bridges 51 and 58 which engage respectively spring terminals 59 and 6I and 62 and 63 fastened in the housing 52, these terminals being connected by suitable electrical wiring 64 to form two electric circuits thru the socket strips 32 and 33 and the iiuorescent lamp.

Having disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention but realizing that in view of my disclosure changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, in material, form, shape of parts, omission of parts, but all within the spirit and scope of my invention, I do not limit myself to the exact specification.

I claim:

1. A shade of insulating material for a fiuorescent electric lamp, having a pair of end sockets formed in anY end wall thereof for mounting parallel end terminals of the lamp, side walls of said sockets being integral with said end wall and one wall of a socket being a part of said end wall, the longitudinal axes of said sockets being approximately parallel with said end wall, end sockets formed in the opposite end wall of said shade for mounting the opposed parallel end terminals of the lamp, and means for retaining said terminals in said sockets.

2. The construction deiined in claim 1, together with a switch housing formed as an integral part of the wall of the shade.

3. A shade of moldable insulating material for a uorescent electric lamp, having end sockets formed in the end walls thereof for mounting the opposed parallel end terminals of the lamp, side walls of said sockets being integral with said end walls of the shade and one wall of a socket being a part of said end wall, the longitudinal axes of said sockets being approximately parallel with said end walls respectively.

4. A shade of moldable insulating material for a fluorescent electric lamp and having pairs of sockets with parallel openings for mounting the opposed pairs of parallel end terminals of the lamp, the axes of a pair of sockets being approximately at a right angle to the axis of the lamp, side walls of said sockets being integral with said shade and similar end walls of the sockets being portions of end walls of the shade and parts of the socket being integrated with both an end wall of and the top of the shade, resilient metal strips in the sockets and having screw-apertured extensions outside the socket, and screw-apertured lugs adjacent the sockets and integrated therewith and with the top of the shade and with the adjoining lengthwise wall of the shade for mounting the extensions of the socket whereby all of the end walls of the shade are integrally braced With one another.

5. A shade of moldable material for a fluorescent electric lamp and having sockets with parallel openings for mounting the opposed pairs of parallel end terminals of the lamp, the axes of a pair of sockets being approximately at a right angle to the axis of the lamp, side walls of said sockets being integral with sai-d shade and similar enol walls of the sockets being portions of end walls of the shade and parts of the socket being integrated with both an end wall of and the top of the shade.

LOUIS LUDWIG. 

